darn distributor leak

[celica91]

I have a '91 celica 5sfe. there is an o-ring gasket on the shaft of the distributor that keeps oil from leaking out of the engine and into the distributor cap. Mine leaks. I had a mechanic fix it once. Still leaked. I replaced it myself the second time... still leaks. about once a year i have to take the cap off and hose it out with carb cleaner because it will get so gummed up with burnt oil that it won't fire. has anyone else had this problem? Can you tell me how to fix it? Or is this simply a celica bug.

[A Diddy]

did u try changing the seal for the dissy?

[19Celi87]

It is kind of a bug. The rubber seal (the one that goes around the cap itself) is not meant to keep oil out, but rather to keep moisture out that developes in the engine compartment. The oil seal on the arm of the distributor will allow oil through, at leat in my experience, but this oil should drip out through the holes in the base of the housing.
Make sure the tube that runs from the valve cover to the throttle body is clear, and as well, make sure the throttle bodies holes are all in clear working order. They can get gummed up pretty bad.
If this tube and subsequent point of entry are plugged it can tend to force oil through to the distributor body when pressure builds up.

[Pineapple]

The oil seal in the disy shaft tends to crack after so long. You can get a kit to replace them but its a pain to take the disy apart. Make sure you don't hit it with a hammer to get the shaft out. It may crack the magnets.